|
by
Dennis Prince
Every
year, as the trees begin to bloom and love (and pollen) is in
the air, we commence the cultural ritual known as
spring-cleaning. It's practically a calendar event for some
folks, who clamber into the deep recesses of their garages,
attics, and other such crawl spaces to retrieve and remove the
clutter in their lives. And though garage sales and flea markets
routinely feature the excess acquisitions in our lives, so too
do online auctions. If you're ready to get serious about your
spring-cleaning (whether it's springtime or not), here are some
points to ponder that could help your efforts pay off in more
profitable ways than you might have first considered.
Justify
Your Stuff
If you're simply sick of looking at all the junk that has found
its way into the corners and crevices of your living space, drag
it out--but not to the curb just yet. If you've been hanging out
at the online auctions, you probably have a good idea of what
items are getting good bids and you'll know whether the stuff
you have is on the "most cherished" list. Not sure?
Then log on to your favorite auction site and search for items
similar to what you've just unearthed--you'll quickly learn how
much demand is out there and what people are willing to pay for
that unassuming item you would just as soon unload.
Although you can't be assured of
making a quick fortune, you'd be surprised the amount buyers are
willing to pay to take that clutter off your hands.
Research
the Promising Pieces
It does sometimes happen--sellers do come across an item
or two that easily could command a significant chunk of change.
If you think you've uncovered such a holy grail, do your
homework before you offer it up for auction. Find out whether
it's something you should clean up before selling (but remember
that some items are seriously devalued by doing so). Determine
the origin, originality, and obscurity of the item. Whenever
possible, find out about other items similar to yours--that will
help you associate it with other such treasures, especially if
your find is something of a "missing link."
The research you do will not only
better educate you about the item and its value, it also will
allow you to create a highly informative and well-schooled item
listing that shows potential bidders that you're well-educated
about what you're selling.
Some
Trash Is Trash
But remember: Keep your feet on the ground. Many of your
knickknacks, doodads, and gewgaws truly are junk. Many busted,
broken, or simply bizarre items are nothing more than trash, and
if you can't bear to look at them any more, go ahead and dispose
of them. Of course, even though your various odds and ends
likely won't command much attention at the online auctions, you
still can make one last effort to pawn them off for a buck or
two (or less) at a garage sale or flea market.
Key point here: It's not worth your
time or your bidders' time to list and ship an item that pulls
down only two bits. And, if you're unable to find someone to
offer you 25 cents for that funky little item, you still could
consider donating it (and other such curiosities) to Goodwill or
some other thrift outlet--there's a potential for charitable
deductions on your next income tax return.
Priced
to Sell
Although you might find you have some items that could gain you
some extra income at the auctions or elsewhere, you still need
to remember your initial goal: to get rid of it. Therefore,
price your items to sell. If auctioning, list with low starting
bids and no reserves. If there's a market for the item and the
potential for decent bids, let the bidders do the work. Price
your stuff too high and bidders will look elsewhere. You don't
need to necessarily give your stuff away (especially if it's
something truly collectible or otherwise desirable), but
remember that any money you can glean from your castoffs is more
than you'd get by merely throwing them out in the trash.
Whistle
While You Work
Lastly, if you're content to just get rid of junk that clutters
your life, then enjoy the process of selling it off for whatever
you can get. Many sellers marvel at the eagerness of bidders who
truly want their throwaways. It's fun (and even amusing) to
watch others scuffle for the stuff you could give a hang about.
You might not necessarily make a mint, but the little money you
might earn could pay for a night on the town or simply provide
some extra mad money.
In these cases, be happy with what you
get and enjoy the fact that others are paying you to clean out
your closet.
Back to Auction tips &
tactics
|
